After nearly a year of public, stakeholder, and community partner outreach, four possible "scenarios" --or transportation futures-- were constructed as the foundation for the 2018 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). The scenarios were developed using goals and strategies, performance metrics, and priorities for investment choices. At their November meeting, the SJCOG Board unanimously selected Scenario 2a as the basis for the draft 2018 RTP/SCS.
Scenario 2a preserves the foundational elements of SJCOG’s ambitious 2014 plan, while refreshing important planning assumptions, project lists, revenue assumptions, and implementation activities undertaken by SJCOG and local jurisdictions since the 2014 plan was adopted. Specifically, Scenario 2a will:
- Invest in transportation systems that complement compact growth and minimize impacts on agricultural land
- Provide flexible funding to all modes of transportation
- Invest in ACE expansion for Modesto/Merced, San Jose, and "planning level only" work for Sacramento service;
includes related minimal improvements needed to support the service expansions - Invest in bus transit service including expanded Bus Rapid Transit and more connectivity within communities and between communities
- Include more investment in bicycle and pedestrian investments, complementing public transit and increasing alternatives to driving a car
As with the 2014 plan, scenario 2a captures the ability of the region, within the limits of local general plans, to satisfy the intent of SB375 through its sustainability focused metrics. And, although final updated SB375 greenhouse gas reduction targets have not been finalized by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), Scenario 2a achieves reductions similar to 2014 and is consistent with the target recommendation report provided by SJCOG to CARB staff in December 2016.
With this Board action, additional technical work will be completed, leading to the release of the full draft 2018 RTP/SCS plan and associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for public review in February 2018. The public draft will be accompanied by a robust outreach campaign to ensure a thorough review prior to a final plan adoption in June 2018.
For more details on the scenario development and the activities leading up to the Board action, read the staff report from the November Board meeting.